NHL Fantasy Start / Sit – 2/14

Please note that you should always start your star players. This list is here to help you if you have two similar players and are debating on which one to start. It can also help when deciding on whether or not to pick up a certain FA on days with a light schedule.

The list will also include key players who may miss a game due to injury or healthy scratch and/or a player who is returning from injury.

While a player may be a “sit” recommendation, he should still be put in your lineup over a player without a game. Accumulating stats takes priority over no stats at all.

Different factors go into picking start / sit candidates including strength of opponent, scoring categories, history vs opponent and sometimes, gut feelings. Take that into consideration before making your final decision.

NOTE:These recommendations are posted before the first game of the day. Some changes may be made if any major changes occur to NHL lineups such as injuries, scratches, or especially, starting goalies, once new information is received. Check back often for any changes, especially for late games.

Forwards

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Start

Sit

Jiri Tlusty – CAR

Clarke MacArthur – TOR

(5 G, 7 points in his last 3. Ride the hot hand)

(Just 3 pts this season. Doesn’t offer much else)

Devin Setoguchi – MIN

Martin Erat – NSH

(3 points, 9 SOG last 3. Worth a start on a light day)

(Scoreless, 5 SOG in last 4 games)

Carl Hagelin – NYR

Mikkel Boedker – PHX

(Has 3G, 1A in last 2 and 4G, 2A in his last 5 games)

(Just 3 pts in last 8 games after a good start)

Tomas Plekanec – MON

Sergei Kostitsyn – NSH

(Points in 9 of 12 games this season)

(Yes, he’s still playing. No, he’s not scoring. 1 pt in last 12)

Tyler Bozak – TOR

Steve Sullivan – PHX

(2G, 4 points in last 3 games)

(Hat trick is long forgotten. Scoreless, 5 SOG last 6)

Defensemen

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Start

Sit

Ryan McDonagh – NYR

Mike Kostka – TOR

(3 points, 11 blocked shots last 3 games)

(Has slowed down with only 1 pt in last 10 games)

Joe Corvo – CAR

Ryan Ellis – NSH

(4 points, 11 SOG last 4 games)

(Still struggling; won’t give you much in other categories)

Cody Franson – TOR

Raphael Diaz – MON

(5 points during current 4 game point streak)

(Increased TOI since Subban’s return, but 1 pt in 6 gms)

Dan Girardi – NYR

Filip Kuba – FLA

(3 pts, 5 SOG, 6 hits, 9 blocked shots last 2 games)

(Points not there yet; averaging only 1 SOG per gm)

Justin Faulk – CAR

Erik Johnson – COL

(Pts starting to come. Solid in most categories)

(Is out indefinitely. Sit until further notice)

Goalies

File Photo: Grant Halverson/Getty Images

NOTE: Some goalies for the later games have not been confirmed yet. Check back later as the Start / Sit for the goalies will be updated once goalies have been confirmed.

Start

Sit

Dan Ellis – CAR

Jose Theodore – FLA

(Has been solid and gets the start tonight)

(Numbers aren’t good. Look elsewhere if you can)

Mathieu Garon – TB

J.S. Giguere – COL

(Lindback sick, so Garon starts. Good spot start tonight)

(COL is hurting and faces a tough matchup with MIN)

Martin Biron – NYR

Braden Holtby – WAS

(Not a bad start at home against NYI)

(Numbers still aren’t good. Tough game at TB)

Remember, use this list as a guideline if you are debating between a few players to round out your lineup. Just because a star player appears on the “sit” list doesn’t necessarily mean you should sit that player if your other options aren’t overwhelmingly better.

If you have any questions about your fantasy lineup, don’t hesitate to ask.

About This Empire Soldier: Carlos is the NHL Rankings and Content Editor for Dynasty Sports Empire.
He has been a hockey fan for as long as he can remember, and has been writing about hockey for over five years.
He is the owner / writer / editor for SpeakingoftheDevils.com and has also contributed work for various other hockey websites.
He has been playing fantasy sports since the days when you had to pull stats from USA Today the morning after games were played.